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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Escape From Gringotts In The New Diagon Alley

Did you see the new Diagon Alley updates for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort when you were obsessively refreshing the Wizarding World page of their website or reading their new blog?

Is that not what you were doing this morning? It must be because you are too busy rereading the Harry Potter book series to get online. Or it maybe you haven't heard about the new Diagon Alley expansion? Although, I'm not really sure how that is possible, because I can't shut up about it.

You must have used some Felix Felicis this morning, because your luck is kicking in. I have new Diagon Alley details to share with you!

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Escape from Gringotts is the ride I am super excited to try in the new Diagon Alley expansion of Wizarding World, and Universal released new details and pictures. To get into Gringotts Wizarding Bank, we will first pass under the 60-foot, fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon sitting on the roof. Then we enter the marble hall, and see the goblins working behind their desks.

Gringotts Bank looks amazing - just like it did in the movies. The goblins look amazing, too. You can see them in this video.

The ride itself is a journey through the twists and turns of the underground vault system of Gringotts.

And it is a chance to see the dragon up close and personal.
Hagrid would be so happy.

There will also be an encounter with Bellatrix Lestrange, as well as He Who Must Not Be Named.

Or Voldemort, as those of us in The Order Of The Phoenix call him without fear. Because we all know that fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. Okay. I'm not really in the Order of the Phoenix. But I can pretend, right?

If you haven't been to Universal lately, you might not have tried any of their 3D rides, like the Transformers ride. They are amazing. You really get the full benefit of a theme park that is also a movie studio in these rides. Escape from Gringotts will combine the 3-D Infitec projection systems with 360-degree themed sets, 4K digital high-definition animation, and live special effects.

Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative said, "Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts will change the way you think about theme park attractions. We’ve created an entirely new type of ride that propels guests into the story like never before, and guests will remember it long after their visit to Diagon Alley.”

You can see a preview of the ride, and hear from some members of the creative team behind it in this video.

We are planning on doing Universal next year over Spring Break. I am a huge Harry Potter fan so I am so excited. My son was there with his high school marching band last year and said the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was the favorite part of his trip.

I miss it so much there! Cassidy went on EVERY ride there and loved it far more than Disney, actually. I am a bit afraid because I like to go on the rides that Des can go on - no lie. I get scared at most other things.

They still have the dueling dragons ride! It is in the Hogsmeade part of the Wizarding World. I rode it the last time I was at Universal, and it was AWESOME! As far as I know, there are no plans to get rid of it.

My whole family loves Harry Potter (the books, the movies) and I know we'd have a blast at Universal! We've been keeping an eye on this ride and all the amazing pieces of the experience! Some day we will be there!